Celebrating 40 Years 1980~2020
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Technology Solutions provides member
districts with a comprehensive array of services that support and enhance the effective implementation of technology in teaching and learning. Technology Solutions also provides professional development for educators in effectively integrating the latest technology tools and applications into classrooms; provides infrastructure and network support; and develops customized, cloud-based software solutions for efficient data collection and analysis.
COVID-19 Response
Technology Solutions staff provide networking expertise, infrastructure monitoring and support services to help member districts maintain and/or improve technologyrelated productivity throughout their schools.
The COVID-19 crisis and school closures set this group of technology experts into high gear, as they quickly reprogrammed and distributed dozens of computers to EASTCONN students who needed them for distance learning at home. Staff also provided ongoing technical support to our students, teachers and agency-wide staff, for whom working and schooling at home had created new, unforeseen technical problems. Throughout, Technology staff continued to oversee critical agency servers, VPN access, website access, cyber-security and other important technology functions. Learn more about Technology Solutions’ work during the pandemic by reading the COVID-19 Response Supplement insert.
2019-2020 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Data Systems Creation, Management & Support Teacher Education And Mentoring (TEAM) Collaborative
We continued to manage the EASTCONN-designed online platform for the TEAM Collaborative, currently being used by 2,761 beginning teachers, 1,250 Mentors, 2,240 Reviewers and District Facilitators across Connecticut. After state funding for TEAM activities was eliminated in fall 2018, EASTCONN led a statewide initiative with the
RESC Alliance that allowed 196 districts/schools to enroll in TEAM’s interactive, online induction, support and retention program for new teachers throughout the year.
eObserve Platform
Provided management for eObserve, a universal platform for observation-based assessments. The system is designed to be an open platform and is largely used to support the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), by improving data-collection and reporting.
www.eastconn.org 1.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2019-2020
Toddler Conference
Whether producing videos for events, websites, marketing purposes, grant applications or special projects, EASTCONN’s Video Production Services engage audiences with captivating visuals and professional editing that help bring ideas to life.
Information Technology (IT) Support for Member Districts & Municipalities
Our staff provided a diverse range of expertise and regular, on-site technology support to 7 districts and municipalities – expertise that could not be found in a single, full-time IT person. We delivered added value to districts that had IT staff, but occasionally required additional, specialized skills.
Back Office Support Services
Tech staff support CSDE’s Kindergarten Inventory, used to track progress for
37,000 children statewide
Virtual High School (VHS)
Website Design & Management
1 client district. Continued to provide local and regional trainings through workshops and user-group meetings; in-house experts continued offering input to CSDE, and PowerSchool’s corporate development group.
In partnership with the Finance Office, we provided technology-related support, largely centered around MUNIS, a software package supporting general ledger activity. Also provided data systems support for common school business functions. Continued to support and update websites for 1 small district and 1 larger district. Designed and built a new health collaborative website, and the new LEAP School website. Trained district staff on how to edit and maintain website files, and helped them incorporate ADA website standards and digital accessibility guidelines.
Student Information System (SIS) Support
Provided 8 districts with on-site consultation and PD for PowerSchool and Tyler SIS, serving as the primary SIS support for 4 districts. We also became Connecticut’s only authorized Infinite Campus service center, acquiring
Coordinated the delivery of online VHS courses to 2 participating districts, providing their students with access to more than 200 semester-long and full-year online courses, in addition to AP courses and labs, of particular value during the COVID-19 end-of-school-year closures.
STEM Learning Support
Developed workshops and other activities to expose technology support professionals and classroom teachers to advanced technologies, including programming and technology demonstrations that could help them inspire students to pursue STEM-related career goals.
“The personalized technical support we receive from EASTCONN is exceptional. Their team is always responsive to our needs, providing timely, expert, and comprehensive support. I will continue to recommend EASTCONN for their professionalism, expertise and pragmatic approach.“ – Heather Taylor, Principal, Killingly Intermediate School www.eastconn.org 3.
692
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2019-2020
Families in 1 district used EASTCONN’s customized, online Magnet School Lottery management tool this year
Custom-designed student software applications for magnet school lottery admission processes provided accurate data collection and trusted results with complete equity and fairness throughout the entire process.
Magnet School Lottery Management Tool
We custom-designed a process and related enrollment-lottery software portal to support online applications for a member district’s magnet school and dual-language program. The EASTCONN process and software assured accurate data-collection, and complete equity and fairness in the lottery process, used by 692 students and their families.
Teacher of the Year (TOY) Applications
In collaboration with the Connecticut TOY Council and the CSDE, we continued to provide a statewide, online system for submitting and scoring Connecticut’s TOY applications. For Teacher of the Year 2020, the online system handled 86 applications and 537 scoring sessions, eliminating unnecessary paper and postage costs.
Kindergarten Inventory
EASTCONN delivers data management and system support for the CSDE’s online Kindergarten Inventory, in use in all Connecticut school districts. The Inventory provides the CSDE with critical developmental progress data for nearly 37,000 kindergarteners statewide.
Data Collection & Research Services
We provided technical and logistical support for School Climate surveys of students, parents and staff for 6 districts, including survey delivery, results analyses and comprehensive summative-data reports. Custom survey work, statistical analysis and reporting services are available.
Educational Technology Support Student & Staff Support During COVID-19
Once Gov. Lamont closed schools in March, Technology
staff rapidly repurposed, reprogrammed and delivered 160 agency Chromebooks to EASTCONN students who didn’t have home computers, a new necessity for distance-learning classrooms. Technology staff arranged for free WiFi “hot spots” in students’ homes, and established a student Help Desk to address computer problems. Technology staff also offered ongoing assistance to agency staff, who were grappling with working-from-home computer issues like connectivity, remote student-classroom set-ups, email access, and more.
In-District Professional Development
Technology Solutions provided in-district PD for 22 districts and staff from 2 private schools, on topics like Student Information Systems (SIS), the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), STEM Robotics Instruction and Google Classroom. Our staff also provided online training to participants in the TEAM program, including 402 mentors who completed the TEAM Online Mentor Update and 336 reviewers who completed the TEAM Online Reviewer Update. Staff provided 14 CT DOTS Online onboarding and trainings; and 2 digital accessibility trainings to state agencies, as well as consultation and PD to EASTCONN’s QMC, ACT and LEAP schools on digital accessibility and software compliance. Staff presented at the Universal Design in Higher Education Conference on Digital Accessibility.
Technology Council
Hosted and facilitated by Technology Solutions, this regional council provided a regular forum for 20 attendees to connect with colleagues and share information on state and federal technology initiatives. Representing 7 school districts, council members were given a presentation of View Sonic flat screens, a demonstration of the Glow Forge laser cutter and other topics.
2. www.eastconn.org
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS | HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2019-2020
Internal Learning, Administrative & Infrastructure Support Software Compliance
Maintained the software compliance database to record vendors for renewals and/or new purchases of apps, cloud/web-based and software products for PA 16-189 and the updated PA 18-125, state laws concerning student data privacy. Continued consulting with 1 district.
Employee Self Service Portal/MUNIS Financial System
Designed by EASTCONN Technology staff, the CT DOTS online platform offers early childhood professionals a paper-free method for observing children, collecting evidence and evaluating their skills, saving districts valuable time and resources.
Video Production
Produced, filmed and edited 2 Adult Education promotional videos, as well as 2 recruitment and promotional videos for the agency’s LEAP School. Produced video for successful Head Start grant application, and began work on Head Start recruitment and dental hygiene videos.
Maintained and continued improving the agency’s in-house Employee Self Service (ESS) portal, which handles employee records like time cards, vacation requests, benefits selections, and more. The MUNIS system will be upgraded to a newer version in 2020.
Network Upgrades
Continued to upgrade all wireless access systems in our schools, offices and the Hampton Conference Center, as well as network switches and routers. We upgraded service at Adult Programs’ co-located Community Learning Center/American Job Center in Willimantic, and at our Moosup Gardens Head Start location.
“CT DOTS online has helped organize assessment data in a whole new way. With continued updates and routine support from EASTCONN, CT DOTS is evolving into a teacher tool that also has parent-friendly components that are helpful in furthering the partnership between home and school.“– Christine Kopplin, Eastford Preschool Teacher
PLANS & IMPLICATIONS FOR 2020-2021 • Online Professional Development Technology Solutions will take its first steps toward providing online PD with internally developed content. Our first course on digital information security was successfully delivered to staff in March/ April 2020; online learning has quickly become a critical strategy for delivering new PD and other content.
• Software Development & Improvement We will continue to develop custom software for in-region and statewide use. Currently under consideration are systems for: chemical hygiene management, job postings and onboarding management, school inventory, family technology-use, tracking and guidance.
• Infrastructure Improvements Given the increasing resources necessary to maintain student privacy, adequate records retention periods, and digital security, Technology Solutions will begin to plan and implement substantial improvements to EASTCONN’s internal data infrastructure.
4. www.eastconn.org